Iraq civilian deaths down in April: govt figures

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Iraq civilian deaths down in April: govt figures

21 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Violence in Iraq killed 1,506 civilians in
April, nearly a 20 percent drop from the previous month, Iraqi
government figures showed on Tuesday.

A U.S.-backed security crackdown in Baghdad has helped reduce
some violence in the city, such as sectarian death squad killings.
But militants, especially al Qaeda, have sought to step up attacks
outside the capital.

The figures were compiled by the interior, defense and health
ministries and obtained by Reuters. The number of civilians
killed in March was 1,861 from 1,645 in February.

-snip-

The United Nations last week accused Iraq of withholding figures
for this year because the government feared the data would be
used to paint a "very grim" picture of the country.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070501/wl_nm/iraq_deaths_dc_1

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Oh my! That was fast! :eyes:

[lapfog_1]

1. Be careful with the numbers...

They changed the way they count Iraqi deaths "due to sectarian violence". They no longer count those killed by car bombs, IEDs or other bombs. Now they only count deaths due to gunshot or beheadings as part of "sectarian violence".

Assholes.

[uppityperson]

2. Does this count car bombing deaths too?

[maddezmom]

3. wonder what would happen if we went through DU for the same amt

of time and did the calculations of just what was posted.

[Renew Deal]

4. They'll be announcing a "correction" by June 15th.

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

5. 2+2=5

[Robb]

8. Almost

2+2=0.006.

[StarryNite]

6. Yeah, right.

If it's true it's only because there are less of them alive now to kill. Not to mention those who have left the country.

[rodeodance]

7. If they can use the #'s to say PROGRESS, they will put them out (as they did).

[maddezmom]

9. Iraq civilian casualties down in April, but rise for Iraqi soldiers

BAGHDAD Iraqi officials say fewer civilians were killed in April than March, but the death toll for Iraqi soldiers increased.

Meantime, the number of detainees is about half the level of the previous month.

Government officials tell The Associated Press that 15-hundred-and-one civilians were killed in April, a 20 percent drop from March. But 63 Iraqi soldiers were killed, up from 44 in March. April was the second full month of a U-S-Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad.

U-S troops took more casualties, with 108 troops killed last month.

Figures are gathered on a monthly basis by The Associated Press from officials who released them on condition of anonymity. They are not authorized to give them out.

http://www.whotv.com/global/story.asp?s=6452308

and again, these figures seem very low.